Gordon Brockington "Bubber" Jenkinson

1948 - 2025

The Honorable Gordon Brockington "Bubber" Jenkinson, 76, retired family court judge and husband of Peggy Kelley Jenkinson, died Thursday, February 6, 2025, at MUSC in Charleston, SC. Bubber was born on November 19, 1948, at Kelley Memorial Hospital in Kingstree, SC. He was the son of William Eldridge Jenkinson, Jr. and Emma Gordon Brockington Jenkinson. He grew up in Kingstree. He became an Eagle Scout in 1962 and graduated from Kingstree High School in 1967. He graduated from the Citadel in 1971. In high school and at The Citadel, Bubber participated in Boy's State as a citizen and a staff member. Bubber then went on to the University of South Carolina School of Law and graduated in 1974.

In 1972, Bubber married Margaret Kent Kelley "Peggy" at Prince George Episcopal Church in Georgetown, SC. Bubber and Peggy raised their girls in his hometown of Kingstree. Peggy and Bubber also spent many happy days on the beach at Pawleys Island and Folly Beach.

Bubber was a trial lawyer for 33 years, which included many years as a Public Defender. In 2007, he was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly to a seat on the Family Court Bench where he served until his retirement in 2020. He held court in almost every county in the state, missing only three.

Bubber had a love for books, and he also began a career in writing. He published his and People of Williamsburgh District, and RL. Bryant released his, St. Albans Episcopal Church: A Short History of a Small Mission. His second novel, River Road, was published in 2011. In 2024, Bubber published Black River and Its Tributaries, 300 years of South Carolina Lowcountry History.

Bubber also traveled to many interesting cities and countries, those travels included a mission trip to Puerto Rico with daughter, Mary, and another mission trip to South Africa, with daughter, Martha Kent. Bubber truly had a servant's heart. He also taught Sunday school to high school students for 18 years.

Bubber was predeceased by a daughter, Margaret Gordon Jenkinson; his parents, William and Gordon Jenkinson; and his mother and father in law, Lewis and Kent Freeman.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Kelley Jenkinson of Charleston. He is also survived by his two daughters, Martha Kent Runey (Michael) and Mary Gordon High (Bubba); his grandchildren, Mary Banks High, Barry Glenn High, III, Anne Lewis High, Michael Lawrence Runey V, Joseph Kent Runey, and Gordon Brockington Runey.

Also surviving Bubber, are his brothers, William E. Jenkinson, III (Salley), Haynsworth McCall "Mac" Jenkinson (Caroline), and his sister, Margaret Jane "Moo" Kirk (Billy), his brother and sister in law, Edward and Kathy Kelley.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM, Monday, February 10, 2025, at Kingstree United Methodist Church, with burial to follow in Williamsburg Cemetery. Bubber's family will receive family and friends at the home of Billy and Salley Jenkinson following the burial. Memorials may be made to St. Albans Episcopal Church, PO Box 866, Kingstree, SC 29556 or the Florence Crittendon Home at 19 St. Margaret Street, Charleston, SC 29403. Online condolences may be sent to the family on the obituary page at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com.